YOUNGSTOWN
Tour to feature historic 1800s homes
YOUNGSTOWN — The third annual Youngstown Tour of Homes and Tea set for Saturday will feature six dwellings constructed between 1836 and 1900. They include a cobblestone house, a converted school house and a “cobb,” or stackwood construction, house — and even a 1940 ferry, as an added bonus.
“We try and find a spectrum of different styles,” said Karen Noonan, co-chairwoman of the event with Marge Stratton. The event is planned from 10 a. m. to 4 p. m. and is sponsored by the Youngstown Study Club, Youngstown Garden Club and Town of Porter Historical Society.
“This is a very old community, and some of the homes have been modified on the inside and some on the outside, as well,” she said. “Some of the people [whose homes are featured] delight in doing this because they have just renovated their home and would like to show it off, and some are in the midst of renovations and like to talk about what they are doing.”
The six homes include: the Bowen House, circa 1840, at 550 Main St.; the Schlaich Home, circa 1850, 565 Main St.; the Goller Home, circa 1830, 615 Main St.; the Van Zandt Home, circa 1890, 900 Lower River Road; the Swain Homestead, circa 1836, 914 Lower River Road; and the Shippy Homestead, circa 1850, 731 Lockport St.
The tour also includes a stop at the Linda Lee Ferry Boat, circa 1940, currently dry-docked at 147 William St., and owned by Richard Van Tyne.
Tickets are $20 and may be purchased the day of the event at the Bowen House or in advance at Dan and Lucy Wilson Realty, 128 Lockport St., or may be reserved by calling 745-1271.
The ticket price also includes a tea held at the Goller Home, 615 Main St., where refreshments will be served alongside the scenic Niagara River overlooking Fort George across the river and Fort Niagara nearby.
Organizers plan a special reading at the tea of correspondence between William Swain and his family. William Swain left his homestead — which his father, Isaac, built in 1836, at what is now 914 Lower River Road — in April 1849 to seek his fortune during the California gold rush. He returned to Youngstown penniless in the spring of 1851, and the insightful letters delivered during his journey were featured in the book “The World Rushed In,” by J. R. Holliday and in the PBS series “The West,” by Ken Burns.
Margaret and Nelson Beard now live in the cobblestone Swain homestead, which will be a featured stop on the home tour.
Following a career in the U. S. Air Force that led the Beard family to move 14 times in 23 years, the Pennsylvania natives happily retired and purchased the Swain house in 1997. They were well-acquainted with the home, having rented it from 1987 to 1990 before Nelson Beard was transferred to Virginia.
“We fell in love with this house,” recalled Margaret Beard. “I always said I wanted to live in a stone house and this is a cobblestone house, which is extremely special. This is such a peaceful, restful place. The river and the lake are so calming. It is absolutely exquisite. There aren’t many places like this.
“My husband loves history,“ she added, “and we love to hear all of the stories about this house.”
“I think everyone who has ever lived in that home has appreciated the history,” said Noonan, who added that the Swain family occupied the home for more than 100 years.
The home tour drew close to 200 visitors each of its first two years and the three organizing groups share the proceeds from ticket sales. They use the money to help finance various projects in the community.
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